MP

Margaret Quirk (ALP) since 2001. Minister for Corrective Services and Minister for Small Business.

Profile

Girrawheen covers the area between the Reid Highway and Hepburn Avenue west of Mirrabooka Avenue. It includes the suburbs of Marangaroo, Girrawheen, Balga, Warwick and parts of Hamersley.

Redistribution

Girrawheen loses Alexander Heights, Koondoola and Mirrabooka east of Mirrabooka Avenue to the revived seat of Nollamara, gaining the rest of Balga and parts of Hamersley from Yokine and Balcatta, as well as the suburb of Warwick from Kingsley. Together these changes cut the Labor margin from 23.4% to a still imposing 19.1%.

History/Trivia

Girrawheen is a very safe Labor electorate first created ahead of the 1996 election. The seat's first MP was Ted Cunningham, who represented this seat 1996-2001 after having previously served as MP for Marangaroo 1989-96 and Balga in succession to Brian Burke 1988-89. Cunningham retired in 2001, succeeded by current incumbent Margaret Quirk.

2-Party Booth Result

Labor majorities in all 12 booths, ranging from 52.1% at Glendale Primary in Hammersley to 83.1% at Rawlinson Primary in Marangaroo. Labor's two-party preferred vote was above 70% in eight of the twelve booths.